Cebu Motorists Criticized Sen. Sotto’s Bill

Motorcycle riders in Cebu City criticized Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto for sponsoring a bill that would penalize them with P20,000 fine if they will allow other persons, aside from their immediate members of the family, to ride their two-wheel vehicles.

Sotto, who garnered a considerable vote in Cebu, said “this evil Batman and Robin tandem” should be stopped for good, referring to the motorcycle riding in tandem robbers.

The police records show that there are over 3,000 crimes related to riding in tandem motorcycle riders just in Manila alone last year.

Similar robbers riding in motorcycles also occurred in Cebu City.

According to Sotto, these riding-in-tandem criminals can flee away from the crime scene because they can easily move even during heavy traffic. This prompted him to propose Senate Bill 2344.

Under his bill, any person who violates the provision of the law, upon conviction, would be penalized by up to six years imprisonment and a fine of P20,000 for the first offense and an additional P10,000 for every succeeding offense.

The only exemption is that the backriders are the driver’s spouse, child and parent or, if they are members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel who are in duty and in uniform.

Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella is not totally sold out to the bill, although he said the intention of the senator is very laudable, but it might affect the poor families whose only vehicle is motorcycle.

Several motorcycle drivers in Cebu City described Sotto’s proposed bill as anti-poor.

“Mora man hinuon og nag-promote ang senador og wala nay paghigalaay. Kun ang imong amigo nga maglakaw unya naa kay extra helmet dili ka na makapasakay?” Said one motorist who requests anonymity.

Arnel Tancinco, regional director of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Central Visayas, said the proposed law is very difficult to implement.

“Kinahanglang pangitaan pa og marriage or birth certificates ang mga nag-angkas sa mga motor aron pagsuta kun sila sakop ba sa pamilya,” Tancinco said.

Tancinco admitted that the LTO can’t fully implement such law if it will be approved because of the limited personnel.